Portable electric light



Jan. 18, 1938. c. B. COLLINS PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT Filed Oct. 8, 1935INVENTOR AT RNEY Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3Claims.

This invention relates to spring motor operated electric currentgenerating apparatus of the portable or so-called pocket flashlighttype.

The objects of the invention are to provide a device of this naturewhich will be small in size and convenient for carrying, which willprovide a continuous light over a considerable period, which will besimple and inexpensive inits design and construction and adapted to bemanufactured at low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the novel features ofconstruction,combinations and relations of parts by which the variousobjects are attained will be apparent or are set forth in the followingspecification, broadly covered in the claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of a pocket flashlightincorporating features of the invention.

. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are cross-sectional views as on substantially theplanes of lines 2-2, 3-4 and 4--4 respectively of Fig. 1.

The casing of the lamp shown, comprises simply the two generallycylindrical tubular sections 5 and 6, shown as of substantially the samediameter and one, the handle section 4, having a telescopic slidingengagement at I, over the other, forward, generator containing section5.

The generator is of special unusually compact design, making it suitablefor a casing of particularly small diameter.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this structure comprises longitudinallyspaced laminated pole pieces 8, 9, having radially extending polarprojections I carrying the current'generating windings l0, H, andcooperating longitudinally extending permanent bar magnets l2, carriedby a spider IS, on shaft I4, between the two polar assemblies. Thepermanent bar magnets l2, are shown in Fig. l, as extending over theends of the polar projections and Fig. 2 shows how these magnet bars maybe arcuate in cross-section to be substan'-- tially concentric with thearcuate polar tips.

The supporting spider l3, may be of aluminum or other relatively lightnon-magnetic material and the permanent bar magnets may be secured as bysetting them in correspondingly shaped seats ii, in the rim of thismember with screws l8, to hold them in these seats.

The pole piece laminations are shown secured by tubular rivets IT, tothe centers of supporting discs l8, and these latter are indicated asconnected in properly spaced relation by bars l9, having notched edgesat 2|, forced into notches 2|, in the edges of the supporting discs.This forms a unit, cage assembly which can he slipped into thecylindrical casing member l9, and there be secured by a screw or screws22, engaged with one or more of the spacing bars I9.

The magnet shaft is shown as having reduced end portions 23, journalledin bearing bushings 24, which are forced into the tubular assemblyrivets H, with layers of lubricating felt or equivalent 25,therebetween.

The relatively rotatable handle section 6, of the casing is shown ashaving a central screw seat 26, at the end of the same engaged over thecorrespondingly screw-threaded end of the tubular winding shaft 21. Thisshaft is shown as having a bearing at its inner end in a transversepartition in the main casing section and as carrying at the inner sideof that partition a ratchet, engaged by a spring actuated dog or pawl25, mounted on the inner face of that same partition.

Rotatably engaged on' the spring winding shaft 21, is a spring barrel30, shown slotted at 3i, to receive and hold the outer ends of spiralsprings 32, whose inner ends are angled at 33, into holding engagementin a slot 34, in the winding shaft. The end heads of this spring barrelare shown as having rotatable bearing on the winding shaft at 35, andthe inner one of these heads is shown as carrying a ring gear 36,engaging the first drive pinion 31, on a shaft 38, journalled betweenfirst and second partitions in the main casing section.

The partitions referred to are of special construction, the firstcomprising a flat bearing disc 39, and a cupped disc 40, with a felt oilpad 4|, confined therebetween and the second comprising a flat bearingdisc 42, and a companion cupped disc 43, with felt oil pad 44therebetween. The securing of the companion discs together and theholding of the 'two assemblies in desired spaced relation is alleiiected in the present illustration by the spacing studs 45, Fig. 4,having the ends of the same headed over as rivets 46, Fig. 1.

This unit assembly of the two spaced mounting plates or partitions issecured in the main casing section, in the present disclosure by forcingit down in that section until the first partition res-ts against theinternal shoulder 41, at the reduction in the end of that sectiondesigned to telescopi-' cally receive the rotating handle section. Thecupped plate 43, of the second partition is shown as having an annularflange 48,'rnaking a friction fit within the casing sleeve and thisflange is shown in Fig. 1 as notched at 49, to receive the ends of thespacer bars I9, of the generator assembly. Thus the generator assemblykeeps and holds the partition assembly in definitely located relation inthe main sleeve portion of the casing.

The gear train carried by the spaced mounting plates, comprises in theillustration, the first pinion 31, previously referred to, carrying onits shaft 38, the gear 50, in mesh with a pinion 5|, on shaft 52,journalled between the lubricant carrying mounting plates and providedwith a gear 53, meshing a pinion 54, on shaft 55, which carries gear 56,meshing a pinion 51 on a shaft 58, which carries gear 59,,in mesh withthe final pinion B0, on the generator shaft l4.

The hollowed mounting plates containing the oil pads 4|, 44, and thebearing bushings 24, with the oil pads or rings 25 therebetween, providecomplete and long lasting lubrication for the entire train of gearingand the rotor of the generator. The necessary lubricant may be put inthese pads at the time of assembly of parts, siifiicient practically tolast the life of the device.

The cup flange 48 at the rim of the mounting plate 43, engaged by theadjoining head of the generator assembly assures a definite spacingbetween the generator and gearing and in this space, a governor isshown, consisting of a disc 6|, fixed on the rotor shaftand havingpivoted thereon at 62, the centrifugally acting weight leaves 63,carrying brake pads 64, for engagement with the interior of flange", andconnected by pivoted link 65, and spring 66, said link being slotted at61, to pass the rotor shaft. For controlling stopping and starting ofthe generator, a slide button is shown at 68, Fig. 1, frictionally heldby spring 69, against a slotted containing guard 10, and projectinginwardly through a slot H, in the main casing section and brake flange48, into position for holding engagement with the back of the governordisc 6 l.

A lamp is shown at 12', supported in a reflector 13, seated in the endof the main section of the casing. The current generating coils aresuitably connected usually in series relation and may have a terminalconnection at one end as shown at 14, Fig. 1, with the generator frameand hence with the casing and connection at the opposite end as at 15,with an insulated spring terminal on the generator head, engaging thecenter contact of the lamp bulb.

The parts of the device are relatively simple to manufacture and readilyassembled, or if the need arises, easily taken apart. The permanent mag;nets in the straight bar form disclosed, may be made from strip stockrolled to the desired arcuate cross-section and, constructed of cobaltsteel or the like and properly magnetized, these bar magnets incooperation with the field structure, will form a particularly emcientsmall diameter generator.

While two springs are shown, it will be evident that only a singlespring or a greater number than two springs may be used and that in caseof a number of springs, they may be connected in series or in parallelrelation for driving the generator. The spring barrels with the springor springs engaged therein, the gear units with the Winding shaftsprojecting therefrom and the generator units may be all made upseparately in unitary form and then easily assembled in the casingsections.

What is claimed is: a

1. A portable flashlight, comprising relatively rotatable tubular casingsections, a generator comprising spaced end plates to fit within onecasing section, bars holding said end plates in fixed spaced relation,pole pieces secured to and 1 supported by said end plates and havingradially projecting poles with current generating windings thereon, ashaft journalled between the end plates, a spider on said shaft betweensaid end plates, bar magnets carried by said spider and projectingoppositely from said spider into cooperative relation with said radialpoles, means for securing said generator unit in said casing section, agear unit in said casing section and including an end element in drivingrelation to said shaft, a winding shaft journalled in said gear unit, aspring barrel rotatable about said winding shaft and having a drivenrelation to the first gear element of said gear unit, a spring connectedbetween said winding shaft and spring barrel and a winding connectionbetween the second casing section and said winding shaft.

2. A generator for a portable flashlight or the like, comprising spacedend plates, means for supporting the same in fixed definitely spacedrelation, bearings carried by said end plates, a shaft journalled insaid bearings and projecting from one end plate, a spider carried bysaid shaft between said bearings, permanent bar magnets carried by saidspider and projecting oppositely therefrom toward said end plates, polepieces carried by said end plates and having radially projecting polesopposed to the opposite ends of said bar magnets, current generatingwindings on said poles, a drive element on the projecting end of saidshaft and driving means associated with said drive element.

3. A generator for a portable flashlight or the like, comprising spacedend plates, means for supporting the same in fixed definitely spacedrelation, bearings carried by said end plates, a shaft journalled insaid bearings and projecting from one end plate, a spider carried bysaid shaft between said bearings, permanent bar magnets carried by saidspider and projecting oppositely therefrom toward said end plates, polepieces carried by said end plates and having radially projecting polesopposed to the opposite ends of said bar magnets, current generatingwindings on said poles, a drive element on the projecting end of saidshaft, driving means associated with said drive element, said bearingsincluding tubular members extending through the end plates and polepieces and securing the same together.

CAP B. COLLINS.

